Thread-tension gage



'J. H. MESSINGER AND A. E. TETU.

THREAD TENSION GAGE. APPLICATION FILED 02029. !919.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920.

IV VE /V TOR 5 cffi k/lvsszzrazlq A Z? 2270*.

A rum/ms WITNESSES: f n a. nia/ii,

JOSEPH H. MESSINGER AND ALEXANDER E. TETU, 0F OTTAXVA, ONTARIO, CANADA.

THREAD-TENSION GAGE.

" which device will indicate the Application filed December 29, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Josnrrr Howe Mussrnonn and .l-innxaivonn E. Tarn, both citizens of the Dominion of Canada, and residents of Ottawa, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion of Canada, have invented a new and useful 'lhread-Tension Gage, of.

which the following is a full, clear, and eX act description.

This invention relates to gages or devices for indicating the tension of sewing machine threads, and has for an. object to present a construction which will operate while the sewing machine is standing still, in order to allow a proper adjustment of the tension device of the sewing machine.

Another object in View is to provide an easily operated gage which may be connected to the threads of a sewing machine when the machine is stationary and operated quickly so as to indicate the respective tension 01" the upper and lower threads.

iL further object is to provide a tension gage for sewing machines which will continually indicate the tension of the threads as long as held in a given position, so that the tension device of the threads may be varied until the threads have the same tension, said variation being shown automatically on the gage.

In the accompanying drawing: 7

Figure 1 is perspective view of part of a sewing machine showing an embodiment of the invention connected therewith.

2 is a top plan view of the tension gage shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through Fig. 2 in line3-3.

Fig. 41 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 2- on line 4t-1-, the same being on an enlarged scale.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by numerals, 1 indicates a sewing machine provided with an arm 2 of any desired kind having a head 3 which is provided with the usual devices including a tension device 4 for the upper thread. The tension device for the lower thread is arranged below the plate 5, or at any other convenient point desired, the same forming no part of the present invention.

In order to cause the tension on both the upper thread 6 and the lower thread 7 to be the same, or equal, the device 8 is provided, exact tension on both threads and thus allow the operator 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, E9230.

Serial No. 848,022.

to adjust either of the tensiond-evices of the iQ'wlnpppn'iflclllne. lhe gage 8 is shown as eing iornied with a flat body 9 having openings or slots lOand 11, in which slides 12 and 13' operate, said slides being pro vided with upstanding bifurcated thread eng ing members ind These thread (L. engaging members, shown in have preferably ll-shaped slots sons to readily engage the threads, which threzuls are formed with knots when the tension thereof is to be tested. The slides 12 and 13 are provided with guide plates 16 and 1'? which overlap and underlap the base 9 adj acent the respective slots 10 and 11 so as to hold the slideslQ and 13 in proper position, while allowing a free sliding action, thereof. Springs 18 and 19 are connected to the slides 12 and 13 respectively, said springs being of the same size and strength so that pull on either of the members A and 15 will produce the same action on either spring, while the sewing machine is stationary and the device is designed to operate.

In case it is desired to produce a proper tension on any given thread, or for any desired piece of work, the threads are arrangedvas shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing and provided with knots at the ends after which they are fitted into the notches 21 and 22 of members 1 1 and 15. Preferably the threads are first looped over and under the thread guide 23 so that a horizontal pull may act quickly on both threads. When a horizontal pull, is given by the operator the springs 18 and 19 will be stretched and as the pull is equal on both threads the amount of stretching of the springs 18 and 19 will be determined by the tension of the respective threads. In case the tension is equal but too strong the other tension device of the sewing machine may be adjusted for reducing the tension and at the same time maintaining the same equal. If one of the threads has a greater tension than the other the amount of movement of the spring associated therewith will indicate the difference in tension so that a proper adjustment may be secured which will result in the respective springs 18 and 19 being equally stretched. After the tension has thus been corrected the gage is removed and placed to one side and the sewing machine used in the usual manner;

What we claim is:

1. A gage for determining the tension of the threads of a sewing machine, comprismg a base, a palr of sllding members there- 011 adapted to engage the various threads of upper and lower threads of an ordinary sewing machine comprisinga pair of slides, each of said slides having an upstanding member formed with an opening for receiving a thread, a base for guiding said slides, a spring connected to each of said slides and to the base for resisting movement of the slides in one direction, said springs being identical in action, and means connected with the slides and overlapping the base for holding the slides in place and allowing a free reciprocation thereof.

8. A gage for the threads of 'a sewing machine comprising a base formed with a plurality of slots, a slide arranged in each slot formed with 'means for receiving the end of a thread, means for holding the slides in said slots so that they may freely reciprocats but cannot be removed therefrom, and a spring connected with each of the slides and with the basefor resiliently resisting movement of the slides, said springs being identical in action.

l. A gage for sewing mechines comprising a base having a plurality of slots, a slide arranged 1n each of sald slots formed with means for receiving a thread, each of said slides being formed with means overlapping the base on each side of the respective slots so as to act as guides and means for holding the slides in the slots, and a spring for each of said slides, said springs being arranged principally in said slots with one end connected to the respective slides and the other ends connected with the base, said springs being identical in action.

JOSEPH H. MESSINGER. ALEXANDER E. TETU. 

